Knock-down cake pan



Oct. 9. 1956 F. RAI-m 2,765,729

Axmoc'zx-Dovm CAKE PAN Filed Jan, 9, 195e IN V EN TOR.

26 30 H FEUJFRa/yf KNCK-DWN CAKE PAN Paul F. r, Manitowoc, Wis.,assignor to Aluminum Specialty Company, Manitowoc, Wis., a corporationof Wisconsin Application January 9, 1956, Serial No. 557,884

8 Claims. (Cl. 99-436) This invention relates to knock-down pans andmore particularly to a pan n which an object in miniature such as ahouse, may be formed.

ln the past, many forms of cake or ygingerbread houses have been bakedand decorated for special occasions. The vast majority of these houseshave been baked with their sides, ends and roof portions formed ofseparate atly rolled and baked pieces of gingerbread or cooky doughwhich have been joined by means of syrup or frosting to present anobject having the general appearance of a house. Windows, doors andother features of the house have been applied to the at slab portions ofthe house by the use of suitably colored frostings or candies. This formof house has required that the individual pieces be correctly formed andcut before baking and frequently warpage or shrinkage has made itdifcult to complete the project in a satisfactory manner. Thetime-consuming and tedious eilort required to fashion the house inaccordance with the time-honored custom has resulted in the virtualdisappearance of this interesting and delectable object which is sofascinating to both children and adults.

The primary object of the present invention resides in the provision ofa simple, inexpensive and effective knock-down pan in which a solidobject in miniature such as a house may be formed.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of anew and improved knock-down pan which embodies the structural featuresof a common object in miniature in a manner which results in the naturalappearance of the miniature object.

Another object of the present invention resides in the provision of anew and improved knock-down pan simulating the appearance of a house andhaving its side and end portion members provided with indentations whichdelineate doors and windows to facilitate the decoration of the nishedhouse.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedpan of the knock-down type to alford compact and easy storage.

Another object of the present invention resides in the structural formof its several parts which may be quickly and easily assembled intointerlocking relationship to provide a pan which is both rigid anddurable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knockdown pan whichfacilitates its easy washing and cleaning.

Another object of the invention is to provide a knockdown pan which isreadily removable from the finished cake without encountering the dangerof damage to the Cake in the process.

A more specific object of the present invention resides in the provisionof supporting means formed integrally with parts of the pan adapted tosupport the same in upright position wherein the object in miniature isformed in inverted position.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of an illustrative embodiment ofthe invention.

2,765,729 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the knock-down pan in assembledcondition;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken on the line 2.--2of Fig. 1 showing one of the two identical end members in elevation andone of the combined side and bottom members in section with the other,one removed to illustrate certain details of construction;

Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3of Fig. 1 showing one of the two identical side and bottom members inelevation and one of the end members in section with the other oneremoved to illustrate certain structural details;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the upper cornerof adjacent side and end members about to be joined in interlockingengagement through the medium of cooperating slotted portions in each ofthe members;

Fig, 5 is an enlarged horizontal fragmentary sectional View taken on theline 5 5 of Fig. l and showing the cooperating relationship between thedepending flange portions formed on the side and bottom members each ofthe depending ange portions including dimples which cooperate to servethe dual purposes of precluding relative longitudinal movement betweenthe members and as a means for releasably retaining the end member inlatched association with the side members; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevational view showing the method bywhich the end members are applied and releasably retained ininterlocking relationship with the side members; the initial position ofthe end member being shown in dotted lines and the latched position ofthe end member being shown in full lines.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing, itwill be noted that the assembled pan l@ chosen for illustrative purposesis in the form of an inverted miniature house and comprises a pair ofidentically formed side members 11 and a pair of identically formed endmembers 12. Each of the side members include a vertically disposed wallportion 13, an outwardly directed eave portion 14, an inwardly anddownwardly directed roof portion 15, and a downwardly directedvertically disposed ridge portion 16. The wall portion 13 of each of theside members 11 include depressions 17 and 18 respectively simulatingthe appearance of a door and windows. Each of the wall portions 13 maybe additionally adorned by a slightly elevated -rib 19 extending acrossthe house and simulating the presence of a porch roof. The upper outermarginal edge of each of the wall portions 13 of the side members 11 isprovided with ears 20 which extend beyond the marginal edges 24 of themembers 11. Each of the ears 2t) include an upwardly directed slot 21having a greater width at its base than at its mouth to facilitate theapplication and removal of the end members l2 to and from the sidemembers 11. A pair of reversely disposed dimples 22 are positionedadjacent the opposite ends of the ridge portion 16 of the member 11. Thereversely disposed dimples 22 are adapted to nest to preclude relativemovement between the side members 11 when the inner surfaces of theridge portions 16 of the side members 11 are placed in face to facecontact with the wall portions 13 disposed in lateral spacedrelationship. It should be noted at this point that lateral edges 23 ofthe eaves 14, roof 15, and rid-ge portion 16 extend outwardly beyondlateral edges 24 of the side members 11 so as to overlie or extendbeyond the vertical plane formed by the lateral edges 23 of the sidemembers 11.

The identically formed vertically disposed end members 12 are providedwith window-simulating depressions 18 and each of the members 12includes a lower horizontally disposed marginal edge 25 which cooperateswith the lower marginal edge of the ridge portion 16 of the roof 15 toprovide a support for the assembled pan 10. The lower marginal edge 25of each of the end members 12 is provided with a centrally disposedupwardly directed slot 26 having a width sufcient to be slidablyreceived over the ends of the ilanges 1,6 of the side members 114 whenthey iie in face-to-face abutting relationship. A pair of upwardly andoutwardly extending grooves 27 having their apex at the base of the slot26, serve to form a ange 28 which serves to underlie and support theside marginal portions of the roof and is -provided with suicient depthto position the slot 26 in cooperating relationship with the dimples 22to form a means for releasably retaining the positioned end members 12in latched cooperating association with the side members 11 (see Fig.5). The grooves 27 are each provided with an inner base surface 29adapted to lie in surface contact with the lateral edges 23 or" the roof15 and eave portions 14 of the side members 11. A pair of verticallydisposed iianges 39 are turned from the sides of the member 12 and areadapted to overlie the lateral marginal portions of the side members 11over the major height of the wall portions 13. A vertically disposedslot 31 located at the junction between the end member 12 and each ofthe anges 3%) extend downwardly from the top marginal edge of the endmembers 12.

The slots 31 formed in the end members 12 cooperate with and areslidably receivable in the slots 21 formed in the ears 29 or" the sidemembers 11 to establish the desired interlocking connection between theend member 12 and the side members 11. The side iianges 30 on the endmembers 12 are disposed in sliding contact with the outer surfaces ofthe side members 11 to preclude lateral displacement of the side memberswhen the pan 10 is in assembled condition.

The mounting of the end members 12 on the associated side members 11 isbest accomplished (see Fig. 6) by elevating the marginal edge 25 of theend members 12 and introducing the slots 31 into the slots 21 to aposition in which the bases of the two slots are in .abuttingrelationship. The marginal edge 25 of the end member 12 is then moveddownwardly so that the ends of the abutting anges 16 of the side members11 enter the slot 26 formed in the end member 12. The slot 26 passesover the cooperating dimples 22 formed in the flange 16 of the sidemembers 11 at the time when the base surfaces 29 of the grooves 27 liein abutting relationship with the lateral edges 23 of the eave and roofportions 14 and 15 to provide a snap latching engagement to releasablyretain the end member 12 in position on the side members 11.

After the pan 10 has been assembled in the manner previously described,cake dough may be poured into the pan and the pan placed on an oven rackwith the lower marginal edges 2 5 of the end members 12 forming thesupport for the pan.

After the baking of the cake is completed, and the cake is allowed tocool, the pan may be inverted and the end members 12 may be removed byengaging the end of the flange portions 16 with the thumb `and placingthe index and middle ngers against the inner surface of the end members12 on opposite sides of the slot 27. A slight squeezing pressure willserve to disengage the latching connection between the dimples 22 formedon the ange portions 16 of the side members 11 and the slot 26 formed inthe end member 12. The pan 10 is held down with one hand while themarginal edge 2S of the end wall 12 is swung outwardly a suiiicientdistance for the inner edge of the flanges 39 to clear the edges 23 ofthe eave portions 14. The end member 1 2 may be raised to disf engagethe interlocking connection between the slots 21 and 31 yto permit theremoval of one end member 12 from the iinished cake. The identicaloperation is followed to remove the other end member 1.2. The sidemembers 4- 11 may then be swung outwardly to remove them from theiinished cake. It should be noted at this time that the removal of theparts of the assembled pan from the cake may be expeditiously eiectedwithout danger of damage to the cake.

From the foregoing detailed description of the present invention, itwill be noted that a new and improved knockdown pan has been providedwhich embodies a number of functional and structural advantages.Foremost among the advantages of the present invention lies in theprovision of a knock-down pan in which a solid lcalce which embodies theappearance of a common object in miniature such as a 4house may beformed. Secondly, the knoclo down arrangement of the present panprovides a simple, inexpensive and effective means whereby the pan maybe removed from the iinished cake without danger of damaging theappearance of the cake. rfhirdly, the knockdown feature of the presentinvention attords several distinct advantages in that it facilitatescompact and easy ystoring of the device when it is not in use, 1andgreatly facilitates the washing and cleaning of the device.

While the detailed description of the present invention has referred tothe forming of a cake by the process of baking, it is to be understoodthat a common object in miniature may be formed of either gelatinousmaterial or from material which may be frozen.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail in theforegoing specication, it is to be understood that various changes maybe made in its embodiment without departing from or sacriiicing any ofthe advantages hereinafter claimed.

l claim:

1. A knock-down pan comprising a pair of substantially identicallyformed side members and a pair of substantially identically formed endmembers, each or" said side members including an inwardly and downwardlydirected portion forming one-half of the bottom of the pan, each of saidend members including a lower marginal edge disposed below the inwardlyand downwardly directed portion of said side members to form a supportfor the pan, and cooperating means on said side and end members forreleasably retaining said members in assembled relationship. Y

2. A knock-down pan comprising a pair of substantially identicallyformed side members and a pair of substantially identically formed endmembers, each of said side members including an inwardly and downwardlydirected portion forming one-half of the bottom of the pan, each of saidend members including a lower marginal edge disposed below the inwardlyand downwardly directed portion of said side members to form a supportfor the pan, cooperating interlocking means disposed at the adjacentupper corners of said side and end members for releasably retaining theupper portions of said members in assembled relationship, andcooperating latching means disposed adjacent the lower ends of said sidemembers and the bottom of said end members for releasably retaining thebottom portion of said members in assembled relationship.

3. A knock-.down pan comprising a pair of substantially identicallyformed side members and a pair of substantially identically formed endmembers, each of said side members including an inwardly and downwardlydirected portion forming one-half of the bottom of the pan, a ilangeformed along the lower marginal edge of said inwardly and downwardlydirected portion of each of said side members, cooperating positioningmeans on said flanges to preclude relative movement between said sidemembers when said flanges are placed in face-to-face relationship, eachof said end members including a lower marginal edge disposed below theinwardly and downwardly directed portion of said side members to form asupport for the pan, and cooperating means on said side and end membersfor releasably retaining said members in assembled relationship.

4. A knock-down pan comprising a pair of substantially identicallyformed side members and a pair of substantially identically formed endmembers, each of said side members including an inwardly and downwardlydirected portion forming onehalf of the bottom of the pan, a dependingange formed along the lower marginal edge of the inwardly and downwardlydirected portion of each of said side members, cooperating positioningmeans on said depending ilanges to preclude relative movement betweensaid side members when said flanges are placed in face-to-facerelationship, each of said end members including a lower marginal edgedisposed below the inwardly and downwardly directed portion of said sidemembers to form a support for the pan, a slot interrupting the lowermarginal edge of said end members, said slot being receivable over theends of the associated anges on said side members, said slot beingengageable with the cooperating positioning means on said flanges tolatch the lower portions of said side and end members in assembledrelationship, and cooperating interlocking means adjacent the uppercorners of said side and end members for releasably retaining the uppercorners of said end and side members in assembled relationship.

5. A knock-down pan in which a solid object simulating the appearance ofa miniature house may be formed, said pan comprising a pair ofsubstantially identically formed side members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of a door and windows and a pairof substantially identically formed end members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of windows, each of said pair ofside members including an inwardly and downwardly directed portionforming onehalf of the bottom ot' the pan and delineating one-half ofthe roof of the house when the pan is assembled, each of said endmembers including a lower marginal edge disposed below the inwardly anddownwardly directed portion of said side members to form a support forthe assembled pan, and cooperating means on said side and end membersfor releasably retaining said members in assembled relationship.

6. A knock-down pan in which a solid object simulatino the appearance ofa miniature house may be formed, said pan comprising a pair ofsubstantially identically formed side members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of a door and windows and a pairof substantially identically formed end members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of windows, each of said pair ofside members including an inwardly and downwardly directed portionforming one-half of the bottom of the pan and delineating one-half ofthe roof of the house when the pan is assembled, each of said endmembers including a lower marginal edge disposed below the inwardly anddownwardly directed portion of each of said side members to form asupport for the assembled pan, cooperating interlocking means disposedadjacent the upper corners of said side and end members for releasablyretaining the upper portions of said members in assembled relationship,and cooperating latching means disposed adjacent the lower ends of saidside members and the bottom of said end members for releasably re- 6taining the lower portions of said members in assembled relationship.

7. A knock-down pan in which a solid object simulating the appearance ofa miniature house may be formed, said pan comprising a pair ofsubstantially identically formed side members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of a door and windows and a pairof substantially identically formed end members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of windows, each of said pair ofside members including an inwardiy and downwardly directed portionforming onehalf of the bottom of the pan and delineating one-half of theroof of the house when the pan is assembled, a flange formed along thelower marginal edge of the inwardly and downwardly directed portion ofeach of said side members, cooperating positioning means on said angesto preclude relative movement between said side members when said angesare placed in face-to-face relationship, each of said end membersincluding a lower marginal edge disposed below the inwardly anddownwardly directed portion of each of said side members to form asupport for the assembled pan, and cooperating means on said side andend members for releasably retaining said members in assembledrelationship.

8. A knock-down pan in which a solid object simulating the appearance ofa miniature house may be formed, said pan comprising a pair ofsubstantially identically formed side members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of a door and windows and a pairof substantially identically formed end members each includingindentations simulating the appearance of windows, each of said pair ofside members including an inwardly and downwardly directed portionforming one-half of the bottom of the pan and delineating one-half ofthe roof of the house when the pan is assembled, a depending ange formedalong the lower marginal edge of the inwardly and downwardly directedportion of each of said side members, cooperating positioning means inthe form of reversely disposed dimples formed adjacent the ends of saiddepending flanges to preclude relative movement between said sidemembers when said flanges are placed in ace-to-face relationship, eachof said end members including a lower marginal edge disposed below theinwardly and downwardly directed portion of each of said side members toform a support for the pan, a slot in each of said end members, saidslot being receivable over the ends of the associated flanges on saidside members, said slot being engageable with said cooperatingpositioning means on said iianges to latch the lower portions of saidside and end members in assembled relationship, and cooperatinginterlocking means adjacent the upper corners of said side and endmembers for releasably retaining the upper portions of said side and endmembers in assembled relationship.

References Cited inthe le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,248,532Noyes Dec. 4, 1917

